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Playing for the New York Knicks doesn’t necessarily mean living in Manhattan. On Friday, the New York Post revealed that backup guard Miles McBride rented a luxury apartment in Chelsea, a swanky neighborhood in the city. However, he’s one of the few Knicks players who actually live in New York City. While the Knicks play their home games at Madison Square Garden, their practice facility is in Tarrytown, about 45 minutes north of the city.
Even though the Knicks play 41 games at MSG (or more with the playoffs), they spend most of their time at the practice facility for training camps, practices, and treatment. Given this, many players choose to live in the suburbs near Tarrytown, where there’s more space and the housing is cheaper than in Manhattan. While this suburban lifestyle is less glamorous, it offers convenience for the frequent trips to the practice facility and nearby Westchester County Airport.
However, some players are torn about where to live due to New York City traffic. Former Knick Taj Gibson, for example, opted for a spot in upper Manhattan, a compromise that allowed him to avoid long post-game drives but still deal with occasional traffic to the practice facility.
Living in the city has been a popular choice for past Knicks stars like Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire. Still, the practice facility’s location in Westchester County has been cited as a downside when trying to attract free agents. Former NBA player Jared Dudley even suggested that the Knicks should move their practice facility closer to the city to appeal to players who prefer urban living.
In contrast, the Brooklyn Nets addressed this issue by building a practice facility in Sunset Park, just a 15-minute drive from Barclays Center, creating a more centralized home base for their players. For now, though, the Knicks seem content to keep their facility in Westchester County.